Official site for the high/dark fantasy books of authors Barb Hendee and J. C. Hendee, including the Noble Dead Saga (a.k.a. The Noble Dead series), the Mist-Torn Witches series, the Vampire Memories series, and TNDS: Tales from the world of the Noble Dead Saga.

After putting their heroes through leagues of travel and many betrayals, magical traps, and desperate rounds of dangerous diplomacy, the Hendees bring their third Noble Dead subseries (and 14th book in the overall saga) to a violent, action-packed conclusion. The mixed party of sages, mages, intelligent wolves, and well-meaning undead led by dhampir Magiere has just two powerful elemental artifacts left to hide before they can finally go home to live in peace. Unfortunately, an undead horde is gathering in the desert wastes to pave the way for the return of a great ancient evil. At the urging of their companion Ghassan, the adventurers decide they must reunite the five artifacts and head to the desert. They have no idea that Ghassan has been possessed by a 1,000-year-old spirit who once served the evil entity and longs for its return. The Hendees have created a complex, multi-strand plot ripe with conflicts, both internal and external. Though new readers may have trouble keeping track of everyone, longtime fans will enjoy seeing their heroes finally triumph. Agent: John Silbersack, Trident Media Group. (Jan.)

We're in the final countdown, a few weeks out from publication of the final chapter in the Noble Dead Saga: The Night Voice. The official publication day is January 5th, 2016.

JC and I are on pins and needles. This was a tough one to write on a number of levels, and we hope our readers will love the conclusion. All main characters have essential roles to play, and Magiere and Leesil will both face their destinies.

The saga has been a labor of love for us, stretching over a decade plus, and one of the most moving things we hear from our readers is, “I started this series when I was in high school.” It means a great deal to us that so many people have taken the adventure right along with us!

You read it, now hear it…

Finally... this week, our beloved narrator for the Noble Dead Saga's audio editions, Tanya Eby, completed the recording for the The Night Voice., the saga’s final volume coming in print and ebook this January 2017. She is the only person besides our editor who has read the book, and we were so happy when she wrote to say, “I loved it.” She has recorded all fourteen of the novels now, and she is almost as invested as we are. The audio book will be released on the same day as the hard cover.

Once more I present another excerpt after too long away but with a slight change. Barb and I are starting on another collaborative novel under contract (and later into the year than ever before). Further excerpts from this ongoing solo work might come a little slower. In addition, the first scene herein is a rework of the final scene from the last entry of “New Beginnings”; not my usual way when sharing excerpts with others, but a few extra details came to me that had to be set for later use in this novel.

For those just stepping into this excerpt series, use THIS LINK for a listing of previous entries. And so, without further rambling…

J.C. back again with another set of excerpts from this ongoing new work. But first, a little FAQ based on submitted questions from readers of “New Beginnings”…

Q: Is this going to be a self-published work, or are you going with a traditional publisher?

Last things first: there is no such thing as a “traditional” publisher. The publishing industry of today is unrecognizable for its way-back origins. Likewise, along the way, it has changed again and again in many ways, and is changing even now. The true difference is between a “professional” publisher, self-publisher, and the many steps in-between. Oh yes, there are other options, but that being said…

Once the manuscript is complete, it will be submitted to my (and Barb’s) literary agent, who will then “shop” it around to see what offers are made. After that, who knows, but certainly direct self-publishing is an option. We have done such before (see “Tales” at NobleDead.org), and we are involved in consulting within this field for clients (see N.D. Author Services – site currently being upgraded.)

Q: Is this a sequel to the Noble Dead Saga or a spin-off?

No to the first; not really to the second. It does focus on a few minor characters first (and last) encountered in Thief of Lives (Series 1, Book 2), but this book centers very much around their own lives and adventures, which that have nothing to do with the saga's plot(s). It also has quite a cast never before seen in our previous novels.

Q: Are we gonna get all the way to the end, or at least to what happens with the hand?

No to the first; hmmm… maybe partly to the second. Sharing these rough excerpts is fun and certainly keeps me motivated. Very soon, Barb and I will settle in to writing the first book in our next collaborative project: Dead Seekers. When that starts, it will at least be a pause point for this solo project. I will re-evaluated my approach to this work at that time and afterward. Now onto what you came for…

J.C. back again, now that we have returned to our regularly scheduled content. Tomorrow morning, Shade (our rescued stray kitty) will be on her way to her newly found home in California. For those who need to catch up, do a search for “New Beginnings” here at NobleDead.org to find previous installments in this series. Once again, grab your favored beverage and let’s get to it…

First, we are very grateful to all who donated to Shade’s medical treatment and other needs and/or contributed references for new homes. She is already up and about a bit more, and even wants to “play” more often. That being said, fate played a roll once again, just as it did in sending her to the back door of our new address.

A long-time friend of ours came into town for another friend’s wedding. Before leaving home, she saw the notices about Shade, came by for dinner, and that was that.

Elyn Selu will take Shade home by plane this coming weekend. Additional funds were donated to purchase a Delta Airways certified, padded and ventilated, carrying case for Shade to ride with Elyn. Funds were also gathered to pay for an animal companion to ride with the owner. Neither Elyn nor us would ever let a family member ride in a cargo hold!

We are sad to see Shade go, for we have become (too) attached to her. We are overjoyed that she will have a new home and life with someone who shares our high values for four-footer family members. All of our blessings go with both of them! We hope that you wish them well, as well. Elyn is a saint in our books… or will be!

We have decide to open up to inquires from new caretakers (owners) for “Shade” (a nickname that you can change). If you or someone you know might be interested in giving her a loving, happy home for life, then contact us via NobleDead.org (see “Contact” in the main site menu).

We are in the Portland, Oregon, USA metropolitan area, so that is a limiting factor. We are willing to drive her to anywhere within reach of half a day’s travel by car. Here is what we would see as some basic conditions for rehoming her.

No more than one cat per person or one per bedroom/den/office room in the home; usually the lower count of the two but never above the higher count. This is a wise standard regardless of species, and one that we follow. Over his lifetime, J.C. has lived with some 12 other species; he has seen the effects of doing otherwise—none of which good for the humans or non-humans.

No dogs. Shade is frightened of even other cats, likely because of abandonment and competing so young and so long for survival. Adapting her to other cats is possible if done wisely with patience. See this article for how to do so; there’s more that can done, but this outlines the necessities of good foundation.

No long distance “shipping” will be considered. We will not trust Shade’s welfare to US cargo transport systems; she must be under direct human caretaking at all times during transport.

A commitment to see to her coming booster shot if she is rehomed before the 30 day window for that. We will assist transferring her medical records so far to whatever veterinarian you designate. And since she has a blank chip in her, you should register her for her protection. It is a simple process.

And we will leave it at that for now. Please help us out by sharing this notice, which we may repeat over time. Thanks for your attention.

Shade has now been in our spare room since yesterday morning with frequent time spent with her by one or both of us. Barb slept in there last night, and at first Shade was very confused. It was not long before…

All is going as well as can be expected based on our past rescues. Donations so far will help cover much of Shade’s initial examination. We will try to schedule that today, and if not, then first thing Monday morning during business hours. After her test results come in, we will see what else needs to be addressed.

If interested in helping, please see the hidden “SAVE SHADE” page at NobleDead.org. We will keep the updates flowing to let people know where we are in costs and how soon Shade will be ready for a new home. And our deepest thanks to those who donate so far, whose names will not be made public without their permission.

Today we begin setup to bring Shade inside into a secure area. She is already showing direct interest in doing so. Challenging, considering that our girls—Cinders and Ashes—dislike us interacting with other cats. After 24 hours since Shade’s “Frontline” application against external parasites (fleas, etc.), she should be safe if housed in the spare bedroom.

That’s all for today, but thank you for stopping by and taking an interest. If so inclined, please share out this post through your own social channels.

Barb and J.C. have a long history of strays, ferals, and orphans of the four-footer kind seeking them out. It has happened again, and you can help them and the recent arrival nicknamed “Shade.”

Read all about it at the hidden “Save Shade” page at NobleDead.org. All funds (minus PayPal processing fees) go directly to Shade’s medical and (eventual) re-homing costs. Please do what you can or at least spread the word.

Updates will be made through NobleDead.org about Shade’s progress and her fund.

Time again from another couple of scenes from a work in progress. As always, these are initial drafts with little revision and subject to much more refinement. Grab your tea or coffee and again settle down for a few quiet moments of escape into another world…

I am back again though a little later than initially planned, though not without something extra for the wait. For those who need to catch up in these ongoing excepts from a new work, see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. This time out, I offer you the next two scenes, one short and one long. Grab a coffee, tea, or your preferred beverage and let’s get to it…

NOTICE: The original post was damaged and its pertinent parts are restored. For those stopping in on this series for the first time, you might take a peek at Part 1 and Part 2 to get caught up on what this is about. Be mindful that these are extracts from a copyrighted work in progress. And so, let us continue…

J.C. back again, though it may be two weeks plus before Part 3 appears. During that time, Barb and I will be busy settling into our new home, preparing for work on the coming new series, and going over our line-editor’s notes for S3B5: The Night Voice. August will be a very busy month for us.

For those stopping in on this series for the first time, you might take a peek at Part 1 to get caught up on what this is really about. Be mindful that these are extracts from a copyrighted work in progress. And so, let us continue…

J.C. here this time. Along with Barb and I relocating locally before fall sets in, we will soon begin the first book (under contract) in a new collaborative dark/high fantasy series to debut in January 2017. Around these imminent pursuits, there are other career duties to attend as well, so it might seem strange that I am driven to add one more big one. And then there is what to do to keep worthwhile content flowing at NobleDead.org until well after the move.

It has been too long since I last worked on a solo novel of my own. A scary thought amid an overloaded schedule. To keep myself motivated in this additional pursuit, I will try something I have not done in over a decade. In the following weeks, I will share with you the post-draft (pre-finalized) scenes from this new work. I will not likely go beyond Chapter 3 in this manner, but feel free to comment and point others this way.

Be mindful that this is a copyrighted work. I have a title in mind, but will keep that secret for now. And so, let us begin…

Paula Holder has won a signed, hardbound, first edition of First and Last Sorcerer sent to her straight from Barb and J.C. It will be on its way Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

At present, Barb and J.C. are also in the process of relocating by the end of the month. Along with a new collaborative novel (for a new series) to start, they need a little break. Our next raffle will not be until mid-August at the earliest to give them time to setup in their new home office as well. But along the way, something else is planned.

Stay with us, as this is not even close to the last raffle out of NobleDead.org, and other treats are coming your way as well. Watch for them and don’t miss out.

This raffle for a signed, first edition, hardbound of First and Last Sorcerer ends tonight at midnight PST. You have until then to get your entry in by seeing the original post for instructions and the new location of our secured raffle entry form.

By tomorrow, the winner will be contacted for final shipping confirmation. We hope to announce the winner by Monday morning at the latest.

This will not be our last raffle, of course, but we may be on a break for a few weeks until the next one. Watch NobleDead.org to keep up on the latest news and further raffles to come… and check out our new site layout so far.

Time for another raffle out of NobleDead.org, this time for a signed, first-edition, hardbound copy of First and Last Sorcerer. There is a small change, but it is one we think you will find appealing and convenient. Please read the raffle rules below and the follow the link at the end…

The site template and textual content have been reworked for balance to serve desktops, notebooks, and portable devices. Noble­Dead­.org is once again ready for use, though there is still more work to do.

Next to implement is the banner system for the site as a whole and some pages. And then it will be time for another raffle at NobleDead.org. Stay tuned in for more news coming later today.

We had planned to start a new raffle as of yesterday, but it did not work out. Both Barb and J.C. have very heavy work schedules at the moment. They prefer to be directly involved in happenings at NobleDead.org rather than put that on the staff. And so, we will hold off for a week to see if their schedules clear up and give you another update by next Monday at the latest.

After some failed confirmations from one selected winner, we now have our third and final winner for this raffle. Along with April Halcomb and Mark Mains, Michael S. Hockenson Jr. has also won a signed, first edition, paperback of MW3: Witches with the Enemy.

Even now, all prizes are in the mail and should be in the winners’ hands with 10 days (usually). And with half a week gone, it will not be too long until next Monday morning… and another Audiobook raffle from Barb & J.C. and NobleDead.org.

The current raffle for 3 signed, paper­back, first edition of Witches with the Enemy ended last night at Midnight, PST. Winners have been selected and will be notified shortly. If you turn out to be one of those, you might look at the original post for what is involved, though the steps are easy and simple.

NEXT UP: In another week we will open up another AUDIOBOOK RAFFLE. Watch for the notice through our main site, satellite sites, and social/news channels.

Just another reminder that our raffle for 3 signed, paperback, first edition of Witches with the Enemy is still ongoing. See the original post for rules and requirements as well as other useful information. Follow instructions precisely so that your entry is confirmed on the first submission.

A quick reminder that the current raffle for 3 signed, paperback, first edition of Witches with the Enemy is still ongoing. See the original post for rules and requirements as well as other useful information. Please follow instructions without exception so your entry is confirmed on the first submission.

Deadline for receipt of all entries is Friday, May 15th, 2015, Midnight PST (by the received timestamp on your emailed entry). By the following Monday, our 3 random winners will be notified via email.

S3B5: The Night Voice—the final volume of the Noble Dead Saga—is now available for pre-order at all major print and ebook vendors. Please be advised that preorder for ebook editions may not apply in all cases.

Stop by the “Books” section at NobleDead.org for easy access to links for the top 8 major vendors of print (hardbound) and/or ebook editions. We will keep you updated as we learn anything more.

And here we are as promised with that something special… times 3! That's right, this raffle is now open for three separate winners of a signed, paperback, first edition of Witches with the Enemy shipped directly to your door.

The rules, requirements, and process information are listed below. Please follow instructions without exception so your entry is confirmed on the first submission. One entry per person.

It’s a book birthday! Today, Witches with the Enemy hit the stands; you can find more information and some current purchase links in the "Books" section at NobleDead.org.

For some reason, this one has felt like a long time coming. For those of you who haven’t tried the series, it’s set in Droevinka, the homeland of Magiere from Dhampir and The Noble Dead Saga as a whole. The stories are a lot of fun, and the tone is similar to the earlier Noble Dead books. So happy reading! Oh, and one more thing…

We have something extra and special coming your way for this book birthday. Watch for it by 5pm PST tomorrow!

Stephanie Hunt has just won Audible.com promo codes for Series 1 of the Noble Dead Saga (Dhampir, Thief of Lives, Sister of the Dead, Triator to the Blood, Rebel Fay, Child of a Dead God). For the rest of you, do not despair; of course this will not be the last raffle (audio or otherwise) out of NobleDead.org. Barb and J.C. would never do that.

Watch for the next raffle to come in about another 10 days. J.C. and Bard (as well as the staff) need a little time off. Even now, the Undead Duo is hard and work finalizing revisions to the saga's final volume, The Night Voice. We will have more on that topic as well at a later date.

Tuesday marks the one-week countdown to the release of Witches with the Enemy. This is always such a stressful time for a writer as he or she wonders all sorts of things.

"Will people be wowed by the story and the characters?"

"Have I done as much as is humanly possible to let readers know the book exists?"

I am so excited for this release. My artist really captured the mood with the cover. This story is a little darker than the first two, which is to be expected as much of it takes place in or around Damek's castle. But readers will also get to find out more about Anton's relationship with his brother than they probably wanted to know. Hah!

We are a bit late this time for the final reminder, so we will hold open the deadline for entries until tomorrow morning at 6am PST. This is your last chance (but not the last raffle) to win promo codes for a free audiobook of: Dhampir, Thief of Lives, Sister of the Dead, Traitor to the Blood, Rebel Fay, Child of a Dead God.

See the original post for the rules and enter while you can. This raffle ends (with this change) tomorrow morning, April 25th, 2015, 6am PST, so you still have time.

Yes, your read that title right. This raffle is for a complete set of audiobooks for the first series: Dhampir, Thief of Lives, Sister of the Dead, Traitor to the Blood, Rebel Fay, Child of a Dead God. The winner will receive promo codes for a free edition of each through Audible­.com....

We’re in the one-month countdown to the release of Witches with the Enemy. I’ve been sort of chewing my fingernails over this one. My editor loved it, and I’m hoping so will everyone else.

This one is a little darker than the two previous books, but Céline and Amelie are coerced into traveling to Prince Damek’s castle to solve a mystery for him. So… anything taking place in Damek’s castle is going to be dark…

Chris Strickland has won the first Noble­Dead­.org audiobook raffle for The Mist-Torn Witches, book 1. His promo code has already been delivered.

The next raffle opens on April 13th for 3 copies of the audiobook edition of S1B1: Dhampir in the Noble Dead Saga. Please note that any entries submitted before the raffle officially opens will be discarded.

The Audiobook raffle for The Mist-Torn Witches, book 1 (set in the world of the Noble Dead Saga) ended as of last night at Midnight PST. We will now proceed to selecting and notifying winner. [See the original raffle notice and read the rules to learn how.] By Monday, we hope to announce the winner. NEXT UP: We will wait one week to begin Audiobook Raffle #2 for the audiobook edition of S1B1: Dhampir in the Noble Dead Saga. Please note that any entries submitted before the raffle officially opens will be discarded.

The Audiobook raffle for The Mist-Torn Witches, book 1 (set in the world of the Noble Dead Saga) ends as of tomorrow, Friday the 3rd, Midnight PST. Hop over to the original raffle notice and read the rules. Then get your entry in while you can. Over the weekend, we will select the winner to be announced by Monday. NEXT UP: We will wait one week to begin Audiobook Raffle #2 the following Monday. The prize will be an audio edition of S1B1: Dhampir. For those concerned whether or not you too can enjoy these audiobooks, hop over to the Audible.com apps page to check out how to listen. There are more options than some of you might know.

The Audio book raffle for The Mist-Torn Witches, book 1 (set in the world of the Noble Dead Saga) is still on-going. Hop over to the original raffle notice and read the rules. This raffle closes Friday, April 3rd, 2015, Midnight PST (by the received timestamp on your emailed entry), so you still have time.

NEXT UP: We now have complete promo codes for free copies of audio books for the first six Noble Dead Saga books. The next raffle to come will be for an audio edition of S1B1: Dhampir. More to come on this once the current raffle is completed.

It took a while to work things out, but here we are finally. The first two Mist-Torn Witches novels are now available at Audible, so we start with the first.

NOTE: We are waiting for Audible to catch up on the first six Noble Dead Saga books. Soon as they deliver our promo codes, we will raffle some of those.

All audio raffles will be for “promo codes” of one time use for a free edition of the prize through Audible.com. Please visit their “apps page” now to see multiple options for how to enjoy your prize if you win. Audiobooks through Audible (Amazon) are handled much the same way as ebooks. And so...

The first two books of the Mist-Torn Witches series (The Mist-Torn Witches, Witches in Red) are now available in audio format at Audible.com. Within the next couple of days we will update Noble­Dead­.org with pertinent links. For now you can find these HERE and HERE. But wait, there is more...

Okay, we know many fans are eagerly awaiting the release of audio editions for the Noble Dead Saga and The Mist-Torn Witches series as announced late last year. Audible has production for both series well under way, so here are the pending release dates we have so far…

Bones of the Earth: NAMELESS, our 2nd “anthology” of selected works from “T·N·D·S: Tales from the worlds of the Noble Dead Saga,” is now available in ebook format. This volume includes the novellas titled Karras the Kitten, Karras the Cat, and the new Karras the Nameless. But wait, there’s more...